Johnny Manziel knows his next mission: Play his best football yet from the pocket under the bright lights of Monday Night Football to make it difficult for Cleveland Browns coach Mike Pettine to sit him for the Sept. 7 season-opener at Pittsburgh.

"I don't think that I'm ready for Pittsburgh right now," Manziel told reporters Saturday. "I've only played one (preseason) game. But the more and more you see it, the more you get familiar with it, I think the better it will be."

What could make the mission more challenging is Pettine's plan to alternate Hoyer then Manziel every two series to ensure they split first-team repetitions.

Pettine has said he will announce his regular-season starter Tuesday. He'll sit with general manager Ray Farmer, offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan, quarterbacks coach Dowell Loggains and probably owner Jimmy Haslam before making a decision.

The defining factor Pettine wants to see from the winner of the Browns' quarterback derby is someone ready to get the ball out quick and on point to orchestrate touchdown drives.

"You have to remember Johnny is still raw in terms of the big picture of the NFL," ESPN Monday Night Football analyst Jon Gruden told USA TODAY Sports. "He's never been in a huddle. He's never had to do any of the things Cleveland is asking him to do. We knew he had great instincts, competitive guts and presence. But it'll take some time for Robert Griffin III to master his offense. It's going to take some time for Manziel to master his offense."

Manziel was demoted to third string on Nov. 24 after a video of him partying emerged after the Browns' bye week, but he returned to the starting lineup on Dec. 13, 2015. He threw for 270 yards, one touchdown and one interception of 21-of-31 passing to lead the Browns to a win over the 49ers, their first victory in two months.
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Manziel returned to the starting lineup for an injured Josh McCown on Nov. 5, 2015, but struggled in a loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. He completed just 15 of 33 passes for 168 yards and a touchdown.
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Johnny Manziel received his first regular-season action in Week 2, taking three snaps against the Saints. The rookie handed off twice and threw one incomplete pass in the Browns' come-from-behind win.
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Browns players and coaches have praised Manziel's early approach, showing appreciation for his work ethic and willingness to keep a low profile in the locker room, something rookies are generally expected to do no matter how famous.
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Running Shanahan's no-huddle offense for the first time in training camp last Wednesday, Hoyer showed he's the more proficient maestro at this point. He completed 5-of-7 passes capped by a 20-yard touchdown in up-tempo mode.

Manziel showed he wasn't there yet. He gets another chance tonight to show more development moving the Browns offense.

So what's the forecast for Manziel's playing future? Various factors could thrust Manziel into the starting job beyond his play.

Most likely, Manziel will show he's mastered Shanahan's playbook following Cleveland's Week 4 bye when Pettine could reassess his quarterback situation after navigating a rough opening three-game gauntlet at Pittsburgh, then home against New Orleans and Baltimore.

"I expect Johnny to improve every time out," Gruden said. "I don't think the crisis is, is he ready for opening day? It's get himself ready to be a starter, whether it's Week 1 this year or next."